Henry Bare

Henry Bare was born around 1755 probably in Pennsylvania. He married Unknown. They had children:

1. Henry Bare

2. Jacob Bare b. about 1787.

3. Unknown Daughter Bare

4. Unknown Daughter Bare

5. Unknown Daughter Bare

6. Unknown Daughter Bare

Henry Bare died.

Articles from "The Heritage Book of Ashe Co., NC found at the Ashe County Library.

ARTICLE 1 "THE BARE FAMILY ORIGINS"

The Ashe County telephone directory contains a long list of residents with the surname of Bare. Rather remarkable when one considers that all, or nearly all, are descendents of one Henry Bare who came to the area sometime before 1800. Research to date has not revealed his point of origin, but he was buying land in Wilkes before Ashe was formed. On August 11, 1797 Henry Bare bought 100 acres of land from Jonathan Courtney. On December 27 of the same year, he bought 18 1/2 acres on the south fork of New River which "adjoins his old line." A Wilkes County tax list for 1797 shows one Henry Bare with two polls and 117 acres.

Early census records seem to indicate that old Henry had at least two sons, Henry and Jacob, and there may have been others. A Joel appears in 1840, but is not again listed. Bits of family history mention a Hugh who "went down country." Judith Bare who married Christian Miller, Catherine Bare who married Andrew Sheets, and Sallie Bare who married John Walters were probably of this family.

The real problem occurs when trying to decide which Bare listed in the 1850 census belong to Henry and which to Jacob. On the basis of grouping the birth years, Henry’s sons may have been: Joseph (b.1798) m. Susie Miller; Jacob (b.1801) m. Dicey Lyall; Hughlander (b.1807) m. Polly Koontz; Elias (b.1809) m. Lucinda Sheets; Daniel (b.1810) m. Alvey Miller; Jonathan (b.1813) m. Elizabeth Woodie; and Wilborn (b.1815) m. Caroline Severt. Henry's daughters were probably Elizabeth who married Joseph Miller; Polly who married Jack Farrington; and another who married "a Roten."

Jacob's family members were possibly: Absolum (b.1823) m. Ann Hubbard; William (b.1824); Susannah (b.1825) m. Adam Sheets; Parlee (b.1828); Delphe; Milly m. Michael Miller; Alfred (b.1831) m. Sabra Sheets; Jemina (b.1833) m. Jeremiah Miller; and Joseph Collins (b.1837).

Most of the Bare families in Ashe can trace their roots back to the couples listed. My paternal grandmother, Lou (Bare) Little, was the granddaughter of Hugh and Polly (Koontz) Bare. My maternal grandmother, Hattie (Bare) Bower was the great-granddaughter of Jacob and Dicy (Lyall) Bare and my maternal great grandmother, Emma Jane (Bare) Bower was the daughter of Elias and Lucinda (Sheets) Bare.

Many of the young Bare men volunteered for service in the Civil War. One family member has said that they were hot-tempered by nature and were convinced that they could win the war by them selves. Jacob's son, Alfred, was killed in an accident on the Weldon military railroad on May 1, 1863, leaving Sabra a window. Joseph and Susie had three sons in uniform, Lee, Felix and John. John was wounded (probably at Gettysburg) and died at Petersburg on July 13, 1863, the day Lee's troops reached that city on their retreat.

Elias and Lucinda had four sons, Lee, Farrow, Hamilton, and Absolum, who served. Lee was killed July 1, 1863 at Gettysburg. On the night before the Battle of the Wilderness which took places on the 5-6 of May 1864, Absolum was seen by his first cousin Jesse Bare, but he was never heard from again. Farrow survived the war, but was later killed in a shooting accident at Cicero Bare's.

Jacob and Dicey had four sons in the war, Elias, Wiley, John and Jacob. Elias never returned to his wife Barbara Severt. Wiley was taken prisoner, but was released after the war.

Hugh and Polly also had four sons in the Confederate Army, Rudolph, Hamilton, Jacob, and Jesse, who were at the Battle of the Wilderness with Absolum.

Sources: 1800-1870 Census Records; Ashe marriage and death records; U.S. Archives military records; Miller Genealogy; George C. Bower, James E. Barr, Verl Weight, and B.C. Gwyn (now deceased). - Monte L. DeBoard

ARTICLE 2 "BARE OR BARR FAMILY"

The first record found of a Bare or Barr, in what is now Ashe County, was a grant of land for eighteen and half acres to Henry Barr on a ridge on a branch of the North Fork of New River. The grant was dated 23 July 1795.

This Henry Barr or Bare, born before 1755 (possibly in Penn.) is known to have had two sons:

1. Henry Bare, born about 1779 (age 70 yrs in Oct. 1849, when he died).

2. Jacob Bare, born about 1784 (age 66 years in 1850 census).

Their were possibly four daughters, per the 1800 federal census - three born between 1784 and 1790, and one born in the 1790's